News

Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s January 2023 newsletter is available here. Highlights include: Commander’s Corner; Quartermaster's Update; January Social with MRES and Trivia; January Blood Drive at the Post; Holiday Party Spotlights Youth Essay Participants; New Members; Toy Drive at the Post; and Post Comrades Continue Wreaths Across America Tradition.

Happy 2023! That feels weird to type. Our year ended with a bang — we had a wonderful holiday social at the post and kicked off a toy drive with our Navigator Scouts troop and the Daughters of the American Revolution, which runs through Jan. 18. Here are more fun plans in Jan. 2023:

• We’re kicking off weekly yoga classes Jan. 23 at the post thanks to the Veterans Yoga Project, Mondays 1 p.m. before Tai Chi.
• We’re hosting a blood drive Jan. 19 — see this flyer for details.
• Jan. 19: Social night will feature trivia and MREs! Weird, yes, but fun!

I’ll talk more about it at the January business meeting but we’ll kick off a membership drive in the new year too. In the meantime, think about friends to recruit and also our generous $100 lifetime membership discount! Don’t forget, our auxiliary needs new members too.

In mid-January a group of us will be heading to the Mid-Winter Department Convention in Yakima to network, learn, and also listen to the state-level essay finalists. I’ll report back any pertinent tidbits to our membership.

In the meantime, be thinking about service projects to take on, such as care packages for deployed servicemembers, senior center activities, or whatever else you can think of. We’re as strong as our volunteer force so take the initiative to lead if you have an idea.

Yours in comradeship,

Aly Teeter, Commander

Folks at the post’s holiday social Dec. 16 experienced joy and full bellies after eating Chef Kay's wonderful beef tenderloin dinner. The scene was set with decorations courtesy of our Navigator's Troop 309 scouts, who decked the hall with snowflakes, posters and watercolor painted bookmarks.

Before we feasted on dinner, our essay participants received certificates, prize money and medals and the winners recited their essays. This experience always reaffirms one's confidence in our youngest generation! BRAVO kids! Both winners won the district contest as well and are going on to compete at the Department (aka state) level.

Voice of Democracy: #1 Annika Trippel (also District 2 winner); #2 Conor Fitzgerald; #3 Tommy Daniels; #4 Kiley Fitzgerald. Patriot's Pen: #1 Ciara Fitzgerald (also District 2 winner); #2 James Daniels. Youth Essay: #1 XiaoTian O'Donohue (also District 2 winner)

Santa and his helper made a surprise appearance during dinner and gave gifts to the kids in attendance, which filled the room with even more cheer.

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy each other's company. We also had a number of take-away meals because of the many viruses in circulation. Thank you for the continued support and to our kitchen team for flexing to a dynamic situation.